Tomioka sat in a relatively quiet corner on the edge of the Going Merry's bow, holding a plate of food Sanji had just handed him.
He thanked him in a low voice.
Giant pink cherry blossoms silently bloomed on the summit of Drum Island. Everyone gazed up at the miracle, lost in their own emotions.
Tomioka quietly ate his food; the roast meat was cooked to perfection.
It was different from the feeling of silently eating at home after completing a mission with the Demon Slayer Corps. Here, in addition to the smell of roast meat and spices, there was also some other scent lingering in the air.
"Hey, Tomioka!"
Usopp's voice suddenly rang in his ears, and his mouth carried the scent of wheat. Then Tomioka looked at the large cup in his hand.
Now Tomioka could smell it: it was the smell of alcohol. Of course, he didn't just smell it; he also heard it.
"Why are you drinking tea?! Let me tell you~~" He raised his wine glass high, and some of the liquid spilled out, falling onto the ground.
"Brave warriors of the sea must drink alcohol!"
After speaking, Usopp took another gulp, but he couldn't compare to Nami and Zoro. As he drank, his body swayed.
Tomioka sat cross-legged, looking at the steaming teacup in front of him, then at Usopp's expression of enjoyment.
"Is it good?"
During more than ten years of life in the Demon Slayer Corps, Tomioka was immersed in constantly getting stronger and constantly fighting demons.
Naturally, he had never drunk alcohol. He had seen what people looked like when they were drunk—it was a completely uncontrolled and different expression than usual.
Moreover, he was a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, and the burden of the Water Hashira was also on him.
However... it was different now. Now he was just sailing on the sea aboard this ship called the going merry. If he just took a small sip, it should be fine, right?
As soon as Usopp heard Tomioka's words, his eyes immediately lit up, and he began to shout:
"Quick!! Another glass!!!"
"Tomioka is going to drink alcohol!!"
"Ah!!?" Everyone except Chopper was stunned.
Tomioka, drinking?
The person whose face usually showed no expression was now going to drink???
Nami immediately stood up and walked over to Usopp, "Usopp!! What are you doing! Are you trying to corrupt him?"
Then she turned to look at Tomioka, her fists clenched, her eyes seemingly sparkling with inexplicable tears, "Please!! Don't turn into a big idiot like them!!"
Before Nami could finish, Zoro immediately walked over with a wine glass, handed it to Tomioka, then sat next to him, "Don't listen to that woman, it's good!"
"Trust me, just chug this big mouthful."
Just like that, everyone gathered around. Even Chopper, who didn't understand the situation, wiped away his little tears and watched what Tomioka would do.
Tomioka, uncharacteristically, swallowed. He could feel everyone's gaze concentrated on him and the wine glass in his hand.
But he really wanted to try what it felt like at this moment.
Gurgle gurgle—
The spicy liquid slid down his throat, bringing a burning sensation, followed by a slightly bitter malty aroma.
Tomioka frowned slightly, feeling the warm current burn from his throat all the way to his stomach.
The taste... was strange.
It wasn't good, but it wasn't unbearable either. It was a... new experience. His body seemed to feel a little warm, but his consciousness was still clear.
"How is it, how is it?!" Usopp eagerly pressed, his face full of anticipation.
Zoro also folded his arms, watching him with interest, especially staring at his cheeks and his eyes.
Tomioka put down the wine glass, feeling the lingering aftertaste in his mouth, and objectively commented: "The taste... is alright."
"See! I told you!" Usopp immediately became smug, as if he had discovered a new continent.
"Hey hey, that's just one glass, it's nothing at all!" Zoro picked up the wine barrel, pretending to fill his glass again, "Come on, come on, try another glass! That's when you'll really feel it!"
"You guys, don't go too far."
Vivi couldn't help but speak, with gentle dissuasion, "It's Tomioka's first time drinking, right? Don't force him."
However, Tomioka looked at the overflowing wine glass that was once again offered to him. He was silent for a moment. He really wanted to confirm what that feeling was like.
Under everyone's encouraging and curious gazes, he picked up the wine glass again.
The second glass went down.
This time, the burning sensation seemed less intense, but a subtle lightness began to faintly emerge from his limbs. His vision showed no change, but his bodily perception seemed to blur a little.
This feeling was extremely foreign to him.
"Good! As expected of Tomioka!" Usopp clapped his hands and shouted.
"How do you feel?" Zoro wore what could almost be called an evil grin, still staring at Tomioka.
Tomioka didn't answer immediately. He tried to stand up, wanting to go to the ship's rail for some fresh air. This action was usually as natural as breathing for him.
However, the moment he stood upright.
An extremely subtle sense of imbalance came over him. His body swayed slightly, a movement so small it was almost imperceptible, but to him, it was unmistakably obvious.
What's going on? Is the ground... swaying? No, the ship is sailing.
But why this feeling...? A crack appeared in Tomioka's perpetually calm expression, and a nearly astonished emotion surfaced in his eyes.
He subconsciously stabilized his stance, but that feeling of absolute control over his body was as if it were covered by an extremely thin veil.
"Pfft—"
Usopp was the first to burst out laughing.
Zoro also grinned: "Hey hey, no way? Tomioka, that's only two glasses?"
Even Sanji, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, watched the incredibly strong monster on the ship with amusement, "Oh? An unexpected weakness has appeared?"
Nami held her forehead, with an expression that said, 'I knew this would happen.'
"I..."
Tomioka tried to explain something, but found that any explanation now seemed a bit pale. He indeed felt a sign of being out of control, which was a completely new experience for him.
"Tomioka! Tomioka! Tomioka! Try walking in a straight line!"
Seeing Tomioka like this, Luffy immediately started thinking of more interesting things. He pointed at the wooden plank seams on the deck, eager to stir up trouble.
As soon as his voice came out, Usopp and Zoro also started shouting along.
"Walk in a straight line!"
"Walk in a straight line!!"
Tomioka glanced at him, but didn't move. He knew his current state; walking in a straight line might indeed be a bit difficult.
"So Mr. Giyuu... can't hold his liquor very well." Vivi covered her mouth, saying softly, her tone devoid of mockery, but rather filled with novelty.
Just then, Chopper, who had been ignored, watched the others surrounding Tomioka, and then looked at the barrel of slightly pungent liquid. His curiosity was completely piqued.
Taking advantage of everyone's inattention, he secretly dipped a hoof into a bit of the liquid, then quickly licked it.
"Spicy!! So strange!"
Chopper's entire face scrunched up, and he kept panting with his tongue out.
But Chopper seemed unconvinced. He walked to the wine barrel, and amidst Sanji's protests, he held up a wine glass bigger than his face with his two small hooves, imitating Tomioka's earlier action—
"Chopper! You can't drink that!"
"Gulp gulp—"
A big gulp went down.
The effect was immediate.
His entire deer face instantly turned pink. He let go of the glass and immediately began to wobble and spin on the deck, muttering incoherently:
"Waaah... Dr. Kureha... I think I see so many stars..."
"Rumble Ball... *hic*... another one..."
"I'm not... *hic*... a monster... I'm also... a brave warrior of the sea!"
As he spoke, he tried to transform into his seven distinct forms, but only rapidly switched between his human and reindeer forms.
Finally, with a 'thump,' he reverted to his small reindeer form, his four hooves weak, and he collapsed onto the deck, hugging his hat and giggling foolishly.
"Hahahahaha!" Luffy pointed at Chopper, even more exaggerated, falling to the ground and laughing hysterically. "Hey! Chopper! Are you okay!" Nami and Vivi quickly ran over to check on him.
Tomioka stood still, feeling the unfamiliar tipsiness within him, and then looked at the completely out-of-control Chopper before him.
The air was filled with the aroma of malt and roast meat.
He still didn't think alcohol tasted good, and he instinctively felt wary of this feeling of losing control of his body.
But looking at the vibrant scene before him, the unease in his heart caused by the loss of control was somewhat diluted by the laughter.
He silently walked to the side, sat down again, and decided not to touch that liquid called alcohol tonight. Luffy and the others' cheers still echoed in his ears:
"To celebrate our new nakama! Cheers!!!"
This time, however, he simply picked up his hot tea and raised it into the air.